Oyster-tongs.



N0. 7ll,35l. Patented 0st. 14, I902.

C. K. & W. T. SHAW.

. OYSTER TDNGS.

A uc non filed-Mar. 25, 1902 WITNESSES:

TNE NORRIS PETERS CD PHOTO LIYHO WASHINGTON D UTTED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES K. SI-IAXV AND WILLIAM T. SHAW, OF BELLPORT, NEW YORK.

OYSTER-TONGS.

SPECIFIQATIQN forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 711,3 51, da,ted.October 14, 1902. Application filed March 25, 1902. Serial No. 99,897.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES K. SHAW and VILLIAM 'I. SHAW, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Bellport, in the county of Suffolkand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oyster-Tongs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide new and improved oyster-tongswhich are simple and durable in construction and arranged for loosening,gathering, and securely holding the oysters without requiring unduephysical exertion on the part of the operator when dredging for oysters,the construct-ion permittingconvenientandquickrepairofany one of theparts.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will he more fully described hereinafter and then pointedout in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal inside View of one of the jaws, the handle being shown insection. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the tooth-bar and a tooth insertedtherein; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the improvement.

The jaws A of the oyster-tongs are alike in construction, and eachconsists, essentially,

of a solid metal tooth-bar B, in which are inserted the spaced teeth (3for loosening the oysters in the oyster-bed when the device is usedthatis, when the operator works the jaws toward each other by manipulatingthe crossed handles D in the usual manner, the said handles beingconnected with each other by a pivot E and secured at their lower endsbetween the prongs of forks F, integrally secured to the tooth-bars B ator near the middle thereof.

Each of the jaws is provided with a grate formed by grate-rods G, spacedapart and extending longitudinally and approximately parallel with thetooth-bar B, the inwardlycurved and spaced ends of the said grate-rodsbeing secured to the tooth-bar B at the points at the ends thereof, asplainly illustrated in the drawings.

Each tooth-bar B is curved in two directions-that is, outwardly andupwardly--and the teeth 0 extend from the tooth-bar B in the same planein which the bar is curved upwardly, as will be readily understood byreference to Fig. 3, and the teeth C of each tooth-bar increase inlength from the end teeth toward the middle ones; the points of theteeth standing in a straight line. (See Fig. 2.) By curving the bar Boutwardly and the grate-rods Gin the same direction a more basket-likeform is given to the head of the oyster-tongs, so as to readilyaccommodate the oysters loosened and gathered by the jaws. By having thetooth-bars B curved upwardly and the teeth arranged as described it isevident that the teeth are longest at the middle of each jaw and areconsequently more effective in loosening the oysters without danger ofthe outer shorter teeth becoming embedded too far in the oyster-bed torequire strong physical exertion on the part of the operator to work thejaws into a closed position.

By having the jaws arranged as described it requires comparativelylittle power or ex ertion on the part of the operator to manipulate thejaws to loosen and gather up the oysters in the jaws;

As shown in Fig. 1, the middle portions of the grate-rods Gare formedinto eyes G, engaged by bolts or rivets H extending transversely throughthe prongs F of the shanks and through the lower ends of the handles D,so as to secure the parts mentioned firmly together.

The teeth 0 are driven into spaced diametrical apertures in the bars B,so that the teeth are securely held in each solid bar B by frictionalcontact between the teeth and the walls of the apertures. Now thisconstruction permits of readily removing an unbroken or injured toothfrom the bar and replacing it with a new one without requiring the aidof a skilled mechanic.

Oyster-tongs constructed in the manner shown and described areexceedingly durable and strong and are not liable to lose their shapewhen used, as is so frequently the case with oyster-tongs as heretoforeconstructed.

Having thus described our invention, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Oyster-tongshaving jaws, and handles pivotally connected with each other and securedto the jaws, to open and close the latter, each jaw comprising atooth-bar curved upwardly and teeth inserted in the said bar,

extending ap'proximatelyin the plane in to the middle thereof, as setforth.

3. Oyster-tongs having jaws, and handles pivotally connected with eachother and secured to the jaws, to open and close the latter, each jawcomprising a tooth-bar curved upwardly and teeth inserted in the saidbar, and extending approximately in the plane in which the bar is curvedupwardly, the teeth increasing in length from the ends of the jaw to themiddle thereof, and the points of the teeth lying in an approximatelystraight line, extending from the point of one end tooth to the point ofthe other end tooth, as set forth.

4:. Oyster-tongs having a jaw, comprising an outwardly-curved toothedbar, and correspondingly-curved grate-rods, spaced apart and extendingapproximately parallel to the toothed bar,the ends of the rods beingcurved downwardly and secured to the said toothed bar at differentpoints from the ends thereof, as set forth.

5. Oyster-tongs having a jaw, comprising an outwardly-curved toothedbar, a shank extending integral from the middle thereof for receivingthe handle, and correspondinglycurved grate-rods, spaced apart andextending approximately parallel to'the said bar,

the ends of the grate-rods being curved downwardly and secured to thebar at different points from the ends of the said bar, the middleportions of the rods being secured to the said integral shank, as setforth.

6. Oyster-tongs having a jaw, comprising a tooth-bar, extendinglongitudinally and curved outwardly and upwardly, a shank integral withthe middle of the bar to receive the handle, teeth inserted in the barand extending in the plane in which the baris curved upwardly,longitudinal grate rods spaced apart and having their downwardly-curvedends secured in the bar at .difierent points from the ends thereof, eachof the grate-bars being formed at its middle with an eye, and meansengaging the said eye and the shank, to secure the grate-rods to theshank, as set forth.

7. Oyster-tongs having each of its jaws formed of an upwardly-curvedbar, and teeth secured in said bar and increasing in length from theends of the bar to the middle thereof, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES K. SHAW. WILLIAM T. SHAW.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH M. SHAW, J r., CHARLES W. WALLING.

